ANGER is deepening over claims that Letterkenny General Hospital’s emergency department is performing well.
Under-staffed and clearly not fit for purpose, a local TD has questioned the government’s commitment to open the new medical block on the site within the next six months.
But today hospital manager Sean Murphy told the Shaun Doherty Show on Highland Radio that as far as he was concerned there was no guarantee it would be opened this year – next mind by the summer.
Mr Murphy told the programme: “I cannot seriously guarantee that it will open this year.
“Every effort that the hospital can make, by the clinical team and the management team, to get this unit open will be made.”
No wonder then that Donegal North East Sinn Féin TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn ‘cautiously welcomed’ a Government commitment to open the new medical block at Letterkenny General Hospital within six months.
The new medical block incorporates an Accident and Emergency Department with 19 bays, an acute assessment unit with 11 bays and three 24 bed wards covering three floors.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Both myself and Deputy Pearse Doherty have vigorously pursued the completion of this vital new medical block with the HSE and in the Dáil. Following the overcrowding in the existing Accident and Emergency Department, we decided to again bring this issue to the fore in the Dáil.
“Yesterday evening, under our “topical issues” debate, the Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch confirmed that the block will be open within six months. While this is welcome, Sinn Féin is determined to see it open before then”
“Next Wednesday 25th, a Sinn Féin delegation of myself, Mayor of Letterkenny, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, and Cllr Mick Quinn will meet with the Regional Director of HSE West, John Hennessy and the HSE Regional Manager, John Hayes in Dublin. We will again demand that the HSE provides the necessary financial and personnel resources to the Management of Letterkenny General Hospital to ensure that this new block is opened as soon as possible”
“Unfortunately, the opening of the new block is only the start of a long fight ahead to defend the existing services and specialities at Letterkenny General Hospital. It is clear from last year’s 8 million euro overspend that our local Hospital, which is officially one of the most efficient in the state, has been systematically underfunded”
Our previous story on this issue is here:
And judging by the comments (some from staff whose identities we have protected) the Government isn’t telling the whole yarn.
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